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Dangers Of Aspartame

Aspartame is the technical name for the brand names NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, and Equal-Measure which can be found in most diet foods and beverages. It was discovered by a chemist named James Schlatter while testing an anti-ulcer drug in 1965.

Aspartame accounts for over 75 percent of the adverse reactions to food additives reported to the FDA. Many of these reactions are very serious including seizures and death. A few of the 90 different documented symptoms listed in the report as being caused by aspartame include:

Aspartame is made up of three chemicals: aspartic acid, phenylalanine, and methanol. It is considered by many health experts to be a chemical poison and the breakdown below will show you why.

Aspartate (and Glutamate) Cause Damage

Aspartate and glutamate act as neurotransmitters in the brain by facilitating the transmission of information from neuron to neuron. Too much aspartate or glutamate in the brain kills certain neurons by allowing the influx of too much calcium into the cells. This influx triggers excessive amounts of free radicals, which kill the cells.

The neural cell damage that can be caused by excessive aspartate and glutamate is why they are referred to as “excitotoxins.” They “excite” or stimulate the neural cells to death.

Phenylalanine (50 percent of aspartame)

Phenylalanine is an amino acid normally found in the brain. Persons with the genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU) cannot metabolize phenylalanine. This leads to dangerously high levels of phenylalanine in the brain (sometimes lethal).

It has been shown that ingesting aspartame, especially along with carbohydrates, can lead to excess levels of phenylalanine in the brain even in persons who do not have PKU.

Methanol (aka wood alcohol/poison) (10 percent of aspartame)

Methanol/wood alcohol is a deadly poison. Some people may remember methanol as the poison that has caused some “skid row” alcoholics to end up blind or dead. Methanol is gradually released in the small intestine when the methyl group of aspartame encounter the enzyme chymotrypsin.

Diketopiperazine (DKP)

DKP is a byproduct of aspartame metabolism. DKP has been implicated in the occurrence of brain tumors. When it is nitrosated in the gut, it produces a compound that was similar to N-nitrosourea, a powerful brain tumor causing chemical. Some experts have said that DKP is produced after aspartame ingestion.

Although this is still debatable, evidence does conclude that it is definitely true that DKP is formed in liquid aspartame-containing products during prolonged storage.

After reading this information one would think there is no way to “win” when it comes to dieting but that is far from the truth. I would consider anyone who is willing to continue to poison themselves after reading how harmful this stuff is to be suicidal. You may say to yourself, “Well once in a while it can’t be that bad” and that may be true, however, how many “once in a whiles” are there during your week, your month, your year?

Let’s say you have only one diet soda a day; that’s 31 days of exposure to these harmful chemicals. Over a course of a year it would be a total of 365 days of exposure, and this is only based on once a day consumption; which I am sure most people drink and eat these substances way more than that.

Although the harmful effects of such chemicals may not always be noticed instantly, gradual exposure to them over time can definitely cause serious damage. It would be wise for one to eliminate or drastically reduce the consumption of such things to preserve their health, but that is like telling someone to stop smoking.

It will take a deeper understanding and desire for one to truly do what is necessary to preserve their health in the long run, and that would mean having enough discipline to stop poisoning themselves and making serious adjustments to their diet.

So what can you do to avoid such harm; simple, always check the ingredients of your foods and stop ingesting anything that contains aspartame. If you want to enjoy something delicious, then it is OK to eat real thing once in a while.

I wouldn’t suggest to anyone who wants to live a healthy lifestyle to always eat sugary treats or use excess amounts of sugar in their coffee etc, but the key to a healthy lifestyle is the consistency of a good diet and the occasional indulgence of “treats.” Giving yourself real treats here and there won’t ruin your health; it is the abuse of sugars, sugar substitutes, and junk foods that will.

Many people tend to look for the easy way out when it comes to dieting, but the truth is, nothing good comes easy and there is no substitute for a healthy diet. It is the sheer laziness of people that causes them to literally kill themselves in hopes to lose a few extra pounds by jumping on any new fad that promises results without hard work and dedication.

Sorry folks, in order to look good and have a healthy lifestyle, you MUST sacrifice the things that will harm you. Doing things that may give you results quicker but hurt you at the same time is counterproductive simply because it is suicide. Is it worth having a flat stomach when you have been destroying your brain in the process? I think not.

The human body is an amazing machine. The saying “You are what you eat” is 100% true, and what you eat can kill you, especially if you are ingesting deadly toxins. Stop killing yourself and start eliminating these toxic substances from your life. No short cut is worth cutting your life short.